Firearm charging handle

Abstract

A charging handle for a firearm having a receiver, a bolt and bolt carrier reciprocating within the receiver and a gas tube for directing powder gases to cause operation of the bolt carrier and bolt within the receiver. The charging handle is a generally elongated member having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion with the rearward portion having a portion that extends outside of the receiver that is sized, shaped and adapted to be grasped by a hand of a shooter using the firearm. The charging handle has grooves and gas deflecting surfaces for diverting and deflecting powder gases to protect the shooter from powder gases that may develop around the charging handle when the firearm is fired.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A charging handle for a firearm having a receiver, a bolt reciprocating within the receiver and a gas tube for directing powder gases to cause operation of the bolt within the receiver, said charging handle comprising a generally elongated member having an upper surface and an underside with a lower surface and a forward end portion, a body portion and a rearward end portion, said body portion having an open channel located in said underside thereof and said rearward end portion having at least a portion thereof adapted to extend outside of said receiver and being sized, shaped and adapted to be grasped by a hand of a shooter using said firearm wherein the improvement comprises: a gas groove located in said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle for diverting powder gases traveling along said upper surface of said charging handle away from said firearm; and a gas groove located in said lower surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle located to be in fluid communication with said open channel located in said underside of said body portion of said charging handle for diverting powder gases from said open channel away from said firearm. 
     
     
       2. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  1  wherein said gas groove located in said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle has a bottom surface and said bottom surface makes an angle with said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle. 
     
     
       3. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  2  wherein said bottom surface of said gas groove located in said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging makes an angle of between five degrees and ten degrees with said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle. 
     
     
       4. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  2  wherein said charging handle has a right side and said bottom surface of said gas groove located in said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle slopes to said right side of said charging handle. 
     
     
       5. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  1  wherein said gas groove located in said upper surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
       6. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  1  wherein said gas groove located in said lower surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle has a curved wall. 
     
     
       7. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  6  wherein said curved wall of said gas groove located in said lower surface of said rearward end portion of said charging handle is formed in the shape of part of the circumference of a circle. 
     
     
       8. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  7  wherein said curved wall is formed in the shape of part of the circumference of a circle with a radius between 0.6 of an inch and 1.0 inch. 
     
     
       9. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  7  wherein said curved wall is formed in the shape of part of the circumference of a circle with a radius of 0.65 of an inch. 
     
     
       10. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  1  wherein said rear end portion of said charging handle has an upward extending shield portion with a forward sloping gas deflecting surface. 
     
     
       11. The charging handle for a firearm of claim  1  wherein said rear end portion of said charging handle has two downward extending shield portions with gas deflecting surfaces.